SSBN Alexander Nevsky was moved to floating dock

Second Project 955 Borei nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) Alexander Nevsky has been moved to floating dock of Sevmash shipyard (Severodvinsk), reports Izvestiya. The sub was withdrawn from covered slipway in Wednesday night. It was previously planned that Alexander Nevsky would leave covered slip on Nov 30, 2010. However, that event was postponed due to bad weather.

Sevmash plans that the submarine will stay in the floating dock till "open water"; afterwards, she will be outfitted and undergo mooring trials. So far, it is uncertain when the sub will be launched.

Fourth-generation SSBN Alexander Nevsky was laid down at Sevmash shipyard on March 19, 2004. Expectedly, the sub will be delivered to Russian navy in 2011. The project's lead sub SSBN Yury Dolgoruky was built by Sevmash as well and now holds trials. Presumably, in December this submarine will test her standard weapon Ц ballistic missile Bulava.

Building of third Borei class submarine Ц SSBN Vladimir Monomakh Ц is also carried out by Sevmash shipyard; the submarine was laid down in 2006 and will be delivered to the Navy in 2012. Moreover, everything is ready to start construction of the fourth sub Ц SSBN Svyatitel Nikolai. The sub was supposed to be laid down early in 2010, but the keel-laying was postponed for undetermined time. In total, Russian defense ministry plans to commission eight Borei class nuclear subs.

Project 955 submarines were developed by Rubin Central Design Bureau (St. Petersburg). They will be armed with 16-20 launch tubes for SLBM Bulava and six torpedo tubes. Borei class subs have displacement of 24,000 tons, are capable to dive down to 450 meters and accelerate up to 29 knots.